The year 2025 will stand out as a watershed moment in Odisha’s fight against corruption. From forest officials and engineers to a serving IAS officer, the Odisha Vigilance Department launched an aggressive, state-wide crackdown on public servants accused of amassing wealth far beyond their known sources of income or abusing their authority for bribes. What emerged from the raids were staggering revelations — crores in cash, dozens of plots, luxury buildings, gold, investments and hidden farmhouses — exposing the scale at which corruption had seeped into public offices.
Forester’s fortune uncovered in Koraput
One of the early shocks of the year came from Koraput district, where Niranjan Satapathy, Forester of the Semiluguda Forest Range, was arrested in a disproportionate assets case. Vigilance raids revealed a vast accumulation of wealth that included two multi-storeyed buildings in Bhubaneswar, one building in Koraput, seven high-value plots, around one kilogram of gold, bank deposits worth ₹66.42 lakh, cash of ₹9.28 lakh and a four-wheeler. Unable to explain the source of these assets, Satapathy was booked under Bhubaneswar Vigilance PS Case No. 31/2025 and scheduled to face trial before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar.
Engineer’s empire in Angul
In Angul district, Vigilance arrested Rama Chandra Satpathy, Assistant Executive Engineer of Athamallick Block, after searches revealed an astonishing volume of assets. Officials found a double-storeyed house, 22 high-value plots, around 350 grams of gold ornaments, bank and postal deposits exceeding ₹1.16 crore, and cash of ₹23.95 lakh, recovered from his son-in-law’s house. The engineer failed to account for the wealth, leading to the registration of Cuttack Vigilance PS Case No. 10/2025.
Chief Engineer with crores in cash
Among the most high-profile DA cases of 2025 was the arrest of Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, Chief Engineer (Plan Roads), Rural Works Department. Following simultaneous raids across multiple locations, Vigilance unearthed assets that dwarfed his known income. The seizures included over ₹2.56 crore in cash, two multi-storeyed buildings, two flats, seven valuable plots, bank deposits worth ₹1.5 crore, investments of ₹2.7 crore in shares, mutual funds and insurance policies, more than 1.141 kg of gold, and 15 imported luxury wristwatches. A case was registered under Cuttack Vigilance PS Case No. 14/2025, and Sarangi was produced before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Angul.
IAS Officer caught taking bribe
The most sensational case of the year involved Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer and Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district. Vigilance alleged that Chakma demanded a ₹20-lakh bribe from a businessman, threatening action against his business if the demand was not met. Acting on a complaint, Vigilance laid a trap on June 8, catching Chakma red-handed at his government residence while accepting ₹10 lakh as the first instalment. A chemical test confirmed his contact with the bribe money. Subsequent raids at his residence and office led to the seizure of ₹47 lakh in unaccounted cash, deepening the case against the young officer.
DFO’s 115 plots and hidden farmhouse
Another case that stunned investigators was that of Nityananda Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer of the Keonjhar KL Division. Arrested and forwarded to the Vigilance court, Nayak was found to own 115 plots of land, along with a luxurious farmhouse in Angul district. Searches uncovered a 9,000-sq-ft multi-storeyed building in Angul, cash of ₹10.25 lakh, over ₹50.38 lakh in bank deposits, around 200 grams of gold, and two cars. The farmhouse, spread across 1.5 acres, featured multiple structures, a pond costing about ₹30 lakh, borewells and plantations. Crucially, Vigilance officials discovered a diary detailing expenses related to the farmhouse, leading to its detection. A case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Balasore Vigilance PS Case No. 6/2025.
A year that redefined accountability
As 2025 draws to a close, Odisha Vigilance’s actions have sent a clear and uncompromising message: rank offers no immunity from scrutiny. From block-level engineers to senior bureaucrats, the year exposed how deeply corruption had penetrated governance — and how determined the state has become to root it out. The seizures running into crores and the high-profile arrests have made 2025 a defining chapter in Odisha’s ongoing battle for clean administration.
